12 A BBREVIATIONS , A CRONYMS AND G LOSSARY 12.1 Abbreviations and Acronyms
AAQC Ambient Air Quality Criteria
ACCDC Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre AEMP Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program
AGS Atlantic Growth Strategy
ALDs Anoxic limestone drains AMNS Atlantic Mining NS Inc.
AMO Abandoned Mine Openings
ANFO Ammonium Nitrate, Fuel Oil
ANSMC Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs APEC Atlantic Provinces Economic Council
AQI Air Quality Index
ARD Acid Rock Drainage
ARM Acid Rain Mitigation Project of the West River (Sheet Harbour)
As arsenic
ATV All terrain vehicles
ATVANS All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Nova Scotia
BAP Best Available Practices
BCM bank cubic metres
BFI baseflow Index
BMP best management practices
CAAQS Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards CaCO3 Calcium Carbonate
CCME Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
CCME FWAL Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water quality Guidelines for the Protection of Freshwater Aquatic Life
CDA Canadian Dam Association
CEAA Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency CEPA Canadian Environmental Protection Act CERB Canada Emergency Response Benefit
CFM Cubic feet per minute
CH4 Methane
CIL Carbon in Leach
CLC Citizen Liaison Committee
CMA Census Metropolitan Area
CMM Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
CO Carbon Monoxide
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
CO2e Carbon Dioxide Equivalent Units
COC contaminant of concern
COO Chief Operating Officer
COSEWIC Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada CRA Conestoga-Rovers & Associates
CSM Conceptual Site Model
CSP corrugated steel pipe
CWS Canadian Wildlife Service
DFO Fisheries and Oceans Canada
DO Dissolved Oxygen
DO Dissolved Oxygen
DOC Dissolved Organic Carbon
DSM Digital Surface Model
DTH down the hole
DU designatable units
EA Environmental Assessment
EARD Environmental Assessment Registration Document ECCC Environment and Climate Change Canada eDNA Environmental DNA
EEM Environmental Effects Monitoring
EGSPA Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act
EIS Environmental Impact Statement
EMM Preliminary Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan
EMS Environmental Management System
EOM End of Mine
EP Engagement Plans
EPP Environmental Protection Plan
EQS Nova Scotia Environment Quality Standards ESFWA Eastern Shore Forest Watch Association ESIA Environmental Study Impact Assessment ESMH Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital FEC Forest Ecosystem Classification FHAA Fish Habitat Assessment Area
FOS Fine ore stockpile
FTE Full-time equivalents
FWAL Freshwater Aquatic Life
GCL Geosynthetic Clay Liner
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GHG Greenhouse Gas
GLC ground level concentrations
Golder Golder Associates Ltd
GPS Global Positioning System
HDPE High-density Polyethylene HIS Habitat Suitability Indexing
HMANA Hawk Monitoring Association of North America HRM Halifax Regional Municipality
HU habitat units
IA Industrial Approval
IAAC Impact Assessment Agency of Canada ICMC International Cyanide Management Code IDF Intensity, Duration and Frequency ILE Institute of Light Engineers
ILR Intensive Leach Reactor
IR Indian Reserve
IR2 Round 2, Information Requests
ISQG Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines KBCM kilo bank cubic metre
kLCM kilo loose cubic metre
KMKNO Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office KPIs Key Performance Indicators
LAA Local Assessment Area
LGO low-grade ore
LOEC Lowest observed effect concentration
LSA Lichen Study Area
MACA Mooseland and Area Community Association
MAD mean annual discharge
MBBA Maritime Breeding Bird Atlas MBCA Migratory Birds Convention Act
MBR Migratory Birds Regulations
MCBA Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994
MCG Mi’kmaw Conservation Group
MDMER Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations MEKS Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study
MEL McCallum Environmental Limited
MIA Mining Infrastructure Area MLCM Million loose cubic metres MMMP Mainland Moose Management Plan
MMTS Moose Mountain Technical Services
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MPS Municipal Planning Strategy
MRC Moose River Consolidated
MTRI Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute MVMH Musquodoboit Valley Memorial Hospital Mine Water
Management Plan Mine Water Management Plan
N2O Nitrous Oxide
NaCN Sodium Cyanide
NAG non-acid generating
NaOH sodium hydroxide
NAPS National Air Pollution Surveillance Network NCNS Native Council of Nova Scotia
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NOX Oxides of Nitrogen
NPA Navigation Protection Act, 1985 NPRI National Pollutant Release Inventory NRCAN Natural Resources Canada NSAQS Nova Scotia Air Quality Standards
NSCCH Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage NSDEM Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Mines
NSDMA Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs NSDNR Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources
NSE Nova Scotia Environment
NSECC Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change NSESA Nova Scotia Endangered Species Act NSL&F Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry NSSA Nova Scotia Salmon Association
NSSA AMP Nova Scotia Salmon Association Acid Mitigation Project NSTAT Department of Transportation and Active Transit
NSTIR Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal NWPA Navigable Waters Protection Act, 1985 (repealed)
O3 Ozone
OAA Office of Aboriginal Affairs OMS organic material stockpile
PA Project Area
PAG potential acid generative
PAPR powdered air purifying respirators
PC Post Closure
PEL Probable Effect Level
PLS Plain Language Summary
PM Particulate Matter
PM10 Coarse Particulate Matter; 10 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter PM2.5 Fine Particulate Matter; 2.5 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter PPE personal protective equipment
ppm parts per million
qPCR quantitative polymerase chain reaction
RAA Regional Assessment Area
RCMP Royal Canadian Mounted Police
ROM Run Of Mine
SAR Species at Risk
SARA Species at Risk Act, 2002
SEP Stakeholder Engagement Plan
SMP Special Management Practices
SO2 Sulphur Dioxide
SO4 Sulfate
SOCI Species of Conservation Interest
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
SSD species sensitivity distribution SSWQO site-specific water quality objectives
SU Southern Uplands
TC Transport Canada
TDS Total Dissolved Solids
TIR Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal TLRUS Traditional Land and Resource Use Study
TLS till stockpiles
TMF Tailings Management Facility
TOR Terms of Reference
TPM Total Particulate Matter
TSP total suspended particulates
TSS Total Suspended Solids
USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
VC Valued Component
VECs Valued Environmental Components
VOC Volatile Organic Compounds
VT Vegetation types
WBM water balance model
WQG Water quality guidelines
WRSA Waste Rock Settlement Area WRSH West River Sheet Harbour WSS Wetlands of special significance
WTS water treatment system
YOY Young of the year
ZVI Zone of Visual Influence
12.2 Units of Measure
% percent
< less than
> greater than
°C degrees Celsius
µg/m3 micrograms per cubic metre
µm micro metres
cm centimetre
cm/year centimetres per year
dBA decibels
E East
El. Elevation
g/s grams per second
g/t grams per tonne
ha hectare
Hz hertz
kg kilogram
kg/hr kilogram per hour kg/t kilogram per tonne
km kilometre
km2 square kilometre
kt kilotonne
kt kilo tonnes
kV kilovolt
kW kilowatt
L litre
L/a litres per annum
L/d liters per day
m metre
m2 square metre
m3 cubic metre
m3/d cubic metre per day m3/h cubic metres per hour m3/sec cubic metre per second m3/y cubic metre per year masl metres above sea level
mg/L milligram per litre mg/m3 milligram per cubic metre
ML million litres
mm millimetre
Mm3 million cubic metres Mm3/y million cubic metres per year
Mt million tonnes
Mt/yr million tonnes per year
MW megawatt
N North
NTU nephelometric turbidity unit
oz ounces
pH concentration of hydrogen ions ppb parts per billion
pphm parts per hundred million ppm parts per million
S South
t tonne
t/d tonne per day
t/hr tonne per hour t/m tonne per cubic metre t/m3 tonnes per cubic metres
t/y tonnes per year
TCU true colour unit
V volt
W West
wt% percent by weight
μg/g microgram per gram μg/L microgram per litre
μS/cm microSiemens per centimetre
12.3 Glossary
Abiotic Non-living factors that influence an ecosystem, such as climate, geology and soil characteristics.
Acid rock drainage Acidic pH rock drainage due to the oxidation of sulphide minerals that includes natural acidic drainage from rock not related to mining activity; an acidic pH is defined as a value less than 6.0.
Active layer The layer of ground above the permafrost that thaws seasonally during the summer and refreezes in the fall.
Ammonium nitrate fuel oil A widely used explosive mixture.
Anthropogenic Relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature.
Armouring Protecting a channel from erosion by covering with protective material.
Backfilling Using material to refill an excavated area.
Biophysical The biological (e.g., plants, animals) and physical (e.g., air, water, soil) components of the natural environment.
Bioremediation Use of microorganisms or their enzymes to return soil altered by contaminants back to its original condition.
Biotic Living components of an ecosystem.
Boulder A large rounded mass of rock lying on the surface of the ground or embedded in the soil.
Breccia A fragmental rock whose fragments are angular.
Catchment An area of land where water from precipitation drains into a body of water.
Commitments Actions that AMNS formally agrees to undertake
Degrit A degrit module consists of cyclones that separate the fine kimberlite (less than 0.25 mm) from the grits (greater than 0.25 mm but less than 1.0 mm).
Diabase A dark coloured, fine to medium-grained igneous intrusive rock.
Diversion channel an artificial channel built to reduce excess water flow, particularly during flooding, by diverting some of this flow to a lake or the sea or to a purpose-bult waterway.
Dyke A tabular body of igneous rock that cuts across the bedding or foliation of the rock it intrudes.
Entrainment The entrapment of one substance by another substance.
Fetch An area of a waterbody where waves are generated by a wind having a constant direction and speed (also called Generating Area).
Fines Silt and clay particles.
Flocculant Chemicals that promote flocculation by causing colloids and other suspended particles in liquids to aggregate, forming a floc.
Freeboard The distance between the water level and the top of a containing structure such as a dyke crest or channel top of bank.
Freshet Seasonal surface runoff associated with spring melt.
Game Sanctuaries Game Sanctuaries were established early in the 20th century to protect wildlife and a “nucleus of breeding stock”. Today, wildlife management tools reduce the risk of extinction, but the game sanctuary designation remains as a tool for government to regulate lands, “where unusual concentrations of wildlife are vulnerable to site specific threats.” Game Sanctuaries are enabled under the Nova Scotia Wildlife Act.
General fill Rock not graded as to size or quality
Granular fill Screened and sized rock material for earthworks/construction.
Grits Processed kimberlite particles between 0.25 mm and 1.0 mm in size.
Grizzly A grating, usually constructed of steel rails to separate coarse material from plant feed.
Groundwater Water within interconnected pore spaces of the subsurface within the saturated zone below the water table.
Habitat The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or occurs.
Heat-traced pipes Piping with electric heating elements to prevent freezing.
Humidity cell A type of kinetic test in which a small sample (about 1 kg) is placed in an enclosed chamber in a laboratory, alternating cycles of moist and dry air is constantly pumped through the chamber, and once a week the sample is rinsed with water; chemical analysis of rinse water yields concentrations of elements and other parameters used to calculate reaction rates.
Hydraulic gradient The difference in piezometric level or hydraulic head between two points over a change in distance in the direction, which yields the greatest change in hydraulic head.
Hydrocarbons Oil based products.
Infrastructure Basic facilities, such as transportation, communications, power supplies and buildings, which enable an organization, project or community to function.
Landfarm Facility that contains soil during bioremediation.
Littoral The shallow, shoreline area of a lake.
Make-up water The process water required to replace that lost by evaporation or leakage in a closed-circuit, recycle operation.
Mature climax A forest stand of trees aged 80 to 125 years old
Mine rock Excavated bed rock surrounding the kimberlite deposits. Mine rock consists primarily of granitic rock material.
Mineralization To transform a metal into an ore; to impregnate or supply with minerals or an inorganic compound; to convert into mineral or inorganic form.
Mitigation An approach, action or process to reduce or eliminate impacts of a project on the environment, community, stakeholder or society. To take action on a mitigation AMNS would issue a commitment to the mitigation.
Muskeg Bog: especially a sphagnum bog of northern North America often with tussocks. A usually thick deposit of partially decayed vegetable matter of wet boreal regions.
Nature Reserves Nature reserves are areas selected to preserve and protect, in perpetuity, representative and special nature ecosystems, plant and animal species, features and natural processes. Scientific research and education are the primary uses of nature reserves and recreation is generally restricted. Nature Reserves are protected under the Nova Scotia Special Places Protection Act.
Old Forest A stand or collection of stands containing Old Growth and/or mature climax conditions.
Old Growth Forest A stand with trees 125 years or older
Open-pit mine A mine where rock or mineral extraction from the earth is done using a pit or borrow open to the surface, rather than using a tunnel into the earth.
Ore body An accumulation of ore, which is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements that are typically mined.
Overburden Materials of any nature, consolidated or unconsolidated, that overlie a deposit of useful materials. In the present situation, overburden refers to the soil and rock strata that overlie kimberlite deposits.
Overwintering To remain alive over winter.
Permafrost Permanently frozen subsoil occurring throughout the polar regions.
pH The degree of acidity (or alkalinity) of soil or solution. The pH scale is generally presented from 1 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline). A difference of one pH unit represents a ten-fold change in hydrogen ion concentration.
Plant phenology The study of periodic plant life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate.
Potable water Water that is suitable for drinking.
Potentially acid generating
rock Rock that when oxidized by surface weathering may form acid which can then leach metals. Leached metal ions can be harmful to fish and other aquatic life.
Propagules Root fragments, seeds, and other plant materials that can develop into a plant under the right conditions.
Reagent A substance or compound that is added to a system to bring about a chemical reaction or is added to see if a reaction occurs.
Runoff The portion of water from rain and snow that flows over land to streams, ponds or other surface waterbodies. It is the portion of water from precipitation that does not infiltrate into the ground, or evaporate.
Run-of-mine The raw unprocessed or uncrushed material in its natural state obtained after blasting or digging, from the mineralized zone of a lease area.
Sediment Solid material that is transported by, suspended in, or deposited from water. It originates mostly from disintegrated rocks; it also includes chemical and biochemical precipitates and decomposed organic material, such as humus. The quantity, characteristics and cause of the occurrence of sediment in streams are influenced by environmental factors. Some major factors are degree of slope, length of slope soil characteristics, land usage and quantity and intensity of
precipitation.
Seepage Slow water movement in subsurface. Flow of water from man-made retaining structures. A spot or zone, where water oozes from the ground, often forming the source of a small spring.
settling pond An earthen or concrete structure using sedimentation to remove settleable matter and turbidity from wastewater. The basins are used to control water pollution.
Sub-watershed A smaller portion of a watershed containing a drainage area that is connected to the larger portion by a single channel.
Succession The progressive replacement of one dominant type of species or community by another in an ecosystem until a stable climax community is established.
Sumps A well or pit in which liquids collect below floor level.
tailings Finely ground residuals that remain after the mill process has removed the valuable metals from the ore.
Talik A layer of year-round unfrozen ground that lies in permafrost areas.
Tertiary watershed Tertiary Watershed are subdivisions of secondary watershed.
Thermistors An instrument used to measure temperature.
Till Till is an unsorted glacial sediment. Glacial drift is a general term for the coarsely graded and extremely heterogeneous sediments of glacial origin. Glacial till is that part of glacial drift which was deposited directly by the glacier. It may vary from clays to mixtures of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders.
Total dissolved solids The total concentration of all dissolved materials found in a water sample.
Total suspended solids A measurement of the concentration of particulate matter found in water.
Turbidity The cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by individual particles (suspended solids) in water that are generally invisible to the naked eye.
Utilidors A utility corridor built underground or aboveground to carry utility lines such as electricity, water and sewer.
Valued Components Components of the natural and human environment that are considered by the proponent, public, Aboriginal groups, scientists and other technical specialists, and government agencies involved in the assessment process to have scientific, ecological, economic, social, cultural, archaeological, historical, or other importance
Waste rock Bedrock that has been mined and transported out of the pit but does not have metal concentrations of economic interest.
Waterbody A body of water forming a physiographical feature, for example a sea or a reservoir Watercourse A natural or artificial channel through which water flows.
Watershed Also know as a catchment basin, includes all land that is drained by a watercourse and its tributaries.
Water sheds are split into four categories; Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary.
Wetlands A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other land forms or waterbodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil.
Wilderness Areas These are provincially significant protected areas which are designated under the Nova Scotia Wilderness Areas Protection Act. Forestry and road development are not permitted. Other activities such as mining, vehicle use, building structures or trails, and managing or removing plants are prohibited except in certain circumstances as outlined in the legislation. Hunting is permitted.
